1. Watching techniques on Youtube is a waster of time. You can only learn BJJ by attending class
2. All you need is Jiu Jitsu to win in MMA
3. Gi and No-gi are the same. You only need to train in the gi even if you compete in no-gi
4. All sport Jiu Jitsu techniques wouldn’t work in a real fight
5. You can’t get choked out when you are on top side control
Kit Dale talks about the concepts of open guard when you are on your back without grips. This position is often a very vulnerable position to an array of guard passes as you have no control of your opponents body.
When comparing the number of definitive finishes in the two sports we see that recently 64% of UFC fights have been finished before the final bell compared to 33% in Metamoris.
For the last 5 main events in UFC there were 33 finishes (KOs or submissions) out of 52 fights giving an overall percentage of 64% fights being definitively stopped. 16 out of 52 fights were finished via a submission which is 31% of the fights. For the last 5 Metamoris events 10 out of 30 (33% ) fights have ended with a submission.
UFC 177 – 6 finishes in 8 fights with 1 subs
UFC 178 – 6 finishes in 11 with 2 subs
UFC 179 – 6 finishes in 11 with 4 subs
UFC 180 – 8 finishes in 11 with 5 subs
UFC 181 – 7 finishes in 11 with 4 subs
Metamoris 1 – 3 subs in 6 fights
Metamoris 2 – 1 subs in 6 fights
Metamoris 3 – 2 subs in 6 fights
Metamoris 4 – 3 subs in 6 fights
Metamoris 5 – 1 subs in 6 fights
It is clear that if pro BJJ is ever to reach the mainstream, there will have to be more submissions and less stalling. I am hoping for the sake of BJJ there will be a set of rules to make fighters push the action and look for the finish.
1. Annoying commentary
Jeff Glover and Kit Dale trading cheapshots during the matches was annoying and unprofessional. Jeff started taunting Kit by saying “tapped out in 30 seconds” and Kit coming back saying that Jeff has an IQ of 31. A match between the 2 might be good idea for the next Metamoris. Kenny was smooth and informative as usual.
2. Lack of submissions
Only 1 out of the 6 fights ended with a submission. Perhaps 20 minutes is just not enough time.
3. Too much no-gi
Only 1 out of the 6 fights were in the gi. Hopefully this won’t be a trend in up-coming Metamoris shows as sweaty bodies make submissions less likely. Keenan and Yuri had a very entertaining gi-match and showed everyone the beauty of gi Jiu Jitsu.
1. Action-packed fights
Besides a bit of stand-up stalemate between Vinny and Matheus there was minimal stalling and getting stuck in 50-50 guards which is often seen in other competitions. The fights were all entertaining with great techniques displayed.
2. Good matchups
4 out of the 6 fights could be labelled as MMA vs BJJ matchups. Interesting that Metamoris have been going with this formula. I think the concept of ‘style vs style’ makes for entertaining fights and could increase popularity for Metamoris.
3. JT all over Rory Macdonald
Despite the 25 pound disadvantage, JT Torres dominated the majority of the match showing that technique triumphs over strength.
For many academies this is a big no no. I have seen many students kicked out of an academy because they trained at the same time with an unaffiliated academy. The BJJ community is quite small and rumors about training with rival clubs spread quick so be aware. Some schools don’t have this rule and believe that sharing BJJ techniques between academies is good for your own improvement as well as for the evolution of the sport of Jiu Jitsu. If you like the idea of training at different clubs and not committing to just one, I recommend that you check with the head instructors to see if that’s OK with them.
This rule is quite universal in the BJJ world. Wearing shoes on the mat can damage and mark them as well as make them dirty. Dirty mats can be a health risk as they can lead to skin infections. Also remember to put your shoes back on when you get off the mat or refrain from going back onto the mat with dirty feet.
Some BJJ schools, especially traditional Brazilian schools frown upon lower belts asking higher belts to spar. If this is the case you may be relentlessly tapped if you dare ask the black belt for a roll. Some schools have no problem with this so it is a good idea to check with the head instructor before you ask the higher belts to spar.
When there are a lot of people on the mat and little space, it is good mat manners to stop rolling with your partner and move out of the way of higher belts. If you and your training partner have the same color belts as the pair close you, either pair has right of way.
You should develop the habit of being aware of your surroundings when sparring. By doing this, you will reduce the risk of injury to yourself and people around you. This will also get you used to paying attention to your coach during a tournament match.
Depending on the person, a simple hand shake, a slap and a fist bump, or even a two handed hand shake and bow will start a round of sparring. Likewise one of these will be done at the end of the round. It is a simple show of respect to your training partner. If you are unsure which one to go with, just follow what others are doing at the academy.
Being early or on time for class sends the message that you are dedicated to the art of BJJ. If you are often late and forgetting your belt and uniform, the instructor will eventually see this as disrespectful behaviour. If you are going to be late send a text message to the instructor. Also if you need to leave early it is a good idea to ask your instructor to be excused.
Training with a clean gi will reduce the risk of a lot of skin infections like ring worm and staph. It is also very unpleasant for your partner if you are smothering them with your foul smelling gi. However the Brazilians say that it is bad luck to wash your belt so be warned.
How the head instructor treats his/her students and how the students treat each other is an important factor in choosing an academy. If the instructor belittles and humiliates the students, it is a sign to avoid the academy. It may only take a few lessons to get the general vibe of the academy which is directly influenced by the type of character the head instructor has. That is why it is a good idea to take a few trial lessons before signing up.
Another tell tale sign is how the students behave towards each other. Are they greeting each other before class? Or are the students sitting along the wall staring each other down? Do they welcome and help out new students or do they use them as grappling dummies? Some elite competition teams may have this highly competitive and unfriendly vibe and if you are purely looking at training to become a champion this kind of academy may be for you. But for most people looking to train as a hobby this kind of gym can put you off training BJJ for good.
If you want to learn BJJ to protect yourself, choose a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy that incorporates self-defence in their curriculum. These BJJ schools usually introduce new students to the basics of protecting yourself on the street. They will also teach techniques that are popular in the sport Jiu Jitsu realm. The balance between sport Jiu Jitsu and street self-defence curriculum will vary from place to place so it is a good idea to ask the head instructor how much self-defence is taught in everyday classes.
If you intend on training BJJ purely to win tournaments, there are a lot of BJJ schools that teach techniques specifically for sport BJJ. These types of academies will teach the new students the most effective and efficient techniques to score points and win matches in a BJJ tournament. The techniques taught are always dynamic and innovative and encourage the students to find creative ways of winning BJJ matches. Although some sport techniques can be used in street self-defence, a lot of them would put you in a dangerous position where you could be seriously hurt. Dela Riva guard or sitting guard are very effective positions in sport Jiu Jitsu but leave you exposed to punches and kicks on the street.
In summary, both forms of BJJ are great for fitness and enjoyable to learn. I would recommend having a chat to the head instructor before signing up to see if it matches your goals of training BJJ.
If you live close to your academy this will affect how often you will train. On those days when you are not in the mood to train, you will find an excuse not to go if it is a hassle to get there. The more you train, the quicker you will improve and the more enjoyable BJJ will be. Watching people who started around the same time as you improve quicker isn’t fun.
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